And The Winners Are…

It was a busy night for those involved in successful Brit-flick Billy Elliot and Hollywood high-roller Gladiator at the 2001 Empire Awards. Both films notched up a total of three gongs apiece. Billy Elliot won awards for its young star Jamie Bell (Best Debut), actress Julie Walters (Best British Actress) and for Best British Film. Gladiator lead Russell Crowe received the prize for Best Actor, his co-star Connie Nielsen won Best Actress and Ridley Scott accepted the award for Best Film. Vinnie Jones, the winner of the Best British Actor prize for Snatch, said at the end of his speech "I'd just like to say to Jamie Bell, I won the Best Debut a couple of years ago. You're a terrific little fella and I'm sure you'll be up here picking this up one day." Richard Harris, who was presented with the Empire Lifetime Achievement Award by his co-star from The Field, John Hurt, received a standing ovation from the starry crowd. Reading from the notes he'd written on a napkin at his table, Harris regaled the audience with the tale of his late arrival. "It took me a lifetime to get this award, and I almost missed it at the end", he joked. He also added that he had to cut his speech short as he had some friends waiting for him in the pub.